A rose by any other name...

During the summer one of my classes was Art Appreciation. On the last day of the semester, my instructor had me show my artwork to the class and speak to them about it. (Which as a side note, just goes to show how much working at New Breed changed me, shy quiet little me can now stand in front of a lecture hall and talk without looking like a deer in the headlights from stage fright)

Anyways... afterwards I was walking out and one of the other students asked me, "What's your name again? I want to remember for someday when you're famous." I told her, and she then repeated my name "Angela White... Angela White..." like she was trying to stuff it into the recesses of her brain to try to remember it.

That's when I realized, I'll never stand out as an artist with such a common name.

If you Google "Angela White" you get 4,330,000 hits. If you look at the Image results, I can honestly say none of those people are me... especially one black/white photo that is definitely NOT my body (although I wish it was!)

If you Google "Angela White art" it narrows it down to 2,540,000 hits. I don't even know what page my stuff finally comes up on.

Plus, I mean really, think about it. Let's say you tell your friends you went to a museum and saw a Picasso or a Rembrandt, they know exactly what you are talking about.

But if you tell your friends "Today at a gallery I saw a White"...
they'd ask "A white what?"

It's just too common, destined to be easily forgotten. And my maiden name isn't much better, being Clark. Don't bother Googling that one. I don't think the O's in the Google name go up that high.

So what do I do? Leave it, or change it to a signature people will remember? Actors and writers have their professional names... maybe I should sign my artworks with an alias? Something folks will remember... Moondoggie... CrazyCatLady... The Artist Formerly Known as Angela White...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on being famous... but it would help for people to at least recognize the name. It makes for good business, good marketing. Brand recognition if you will.

Hmmm, so if I were to create an artist signature, what should it be?

Suggestions anyone???

And no, I'm not going to use "Walker Talker"... that was just my Hottalkers screen name derived from being a hotwalker at the track. I considered "RiderAng" which has been my handle since first logging onto the Internet in 1996... but Google pops up every single message I've ever written on every message board out there, including inquiries on fixing Jeep problems, bitching about scams, you name it. Not a way that I want the world to find me.

But my future career hangs in the balance of a good memorable name... so what should it be...